Roger Vernon Cooper

On Monday, July 8, 2019, Roger V. Cooper, devoted husband and father to 3 children, passed away at age 75 from complications of diabetes.  He was surrounded by his children at his daughter Laurie’s home in Covina, CA.

Roger was born on December 26, 1943 in New Rockford, North Dakota to his parents, Vernon and Bertha Cooper and raised on a farm with a good hard working ethic that stayed with him is whole life. He was one of four siblings.   Upon graduating high school, he joined the United States Air Force and became an aircraft electrician and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.  Once discharged in 1966, he continued in the same line of work with Garrett AiResearch.  During this time he met and married the love of his life, Sylvia, at Patchogue Congregational Church on Long Island, NY in 1967, gained 2 stepchildren, Debbie and Ronnie, and a year later had one daughter, Laurie.  While working, Roger attended college and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Dowling College on Long Island, NY.  He had a 30 year career with Garrett AiReseach that went through many mergers and name changes (from Garrett AiResearch, to Signal Companies, to Allied Signal and finally as Honeywell), first as an aircraft electrician on Long Island, then as an accountant after a transfer to California in 1978 and then with another transfer to Arizona in 1994 before retiring to Hemet, CA 2001.

Roger was very proud to be an Air Force Veteran.  He also found a great deal of personal growth and satisfaction being involved with charitable organizations such as the Shriner’s, and the Mason’s, where he reached the level of Master Mason. He was a pet lover, animals large and small, and rescued many.  Roger and his wife Sylvia also spent much time involved in many social groups, pre and post retirement.  These groups included Gardena Valley Boat Club, Frustrated Maestros, and Bucky’s Ramblers. In these groups he held positions as Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer; each numerous times.  Everyone found him to be a great joke teller.  All of these groups facilitated Roger and Sylvia’s love of motorhomes and traveling. They lived a life full of friends and fun adventures.

Roger was preceded in death by his father Vernon, his mother Bertha, his brother George, and his wife Sylvia. He is survived by his three children, Debbie, Ronnie, and Laurie, his sister Marilyn, brother Gary, and 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews that he adored.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the American Diabetes Association.  A memorial service will be held at Hemet Valley Mortuary at 10am on August 9, 2019.  A military service will follow at 2pm at Riverside National Cemetery, where he will then be inurned in the niche alongside his beloved wife.

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